1 Instructions for building a new Route & Place
This R/P explains how to create a new R/P to lead a trip on a route or from a place that has not already been entered in the R/P library. Don’t forget to search existing R/P’s first. Your place may be an ALTERNATE TITLE in an R/P that comes up in a search. REMEMBER you are setting up a document others can use for their own Activities in the future! So -- DETAILS about the route or place you are creating BUT NOTHING about your specific Activity -- all that goes into the Activity you create from the Route & Place you are constructing, once it is published. Do not use THIS R/P to make a trip. This R/P is for instructional purposes only.
Start by clicking on the add route/place button (also found on the main R/P Page).
Complete the “required fields” as shown below. These are the only fields REQUIRED to create a R/P. These are identified by a small red box next to the text. (If you know the information necessary for other fields, feel free to fill that in also. Otherwise, skip them.) Example data is provided.
Title – a short descriptive name of the route or place. For example: Greyrock Mountain TH (example weblink: Greyrock Mountain TH — The Colorado Mountain Club). Note: A descriptive title allows users to filter and find the R&P they desire quickly. Your title is what shows in the space-limited CMC calendar, so brevity is important. Sometimes fewer words are better than more words, at least to start. Example: “Woods” instead of “Woods Peak” or “Woods Mountain.” Required field
REMEMBER -- THE R&P YOU ARE CREATING IS FOR USE BY OTHER CMC TRIP LEADERS IN THE FUTURE. IT SHOULDN'T REFER TO YOUR OWN TRIP -- ALL THAT BELONGS IN YOUR ACTIVITY. THINK ABOUT THE MINIMUM INFORMATION YOU WOULD WANT IF YOU DECIDED TO USE THIS R&P -- TRAILHEAD NAME, MILEAGE, DISTANCE, LINKS TO GOOD SITES OR MENTION OF THEM IN THE MAPS SECTION, ETC.
Summary – Short description/highlights, general location/wilderness area. Keep it short, two to three sentences max. Despite what the form says -- Do NOT include the total trip distance, elevation gain, and high point elevation here because there are places elsewhere in the form for that information. Required field
Description – This is a more detailed description of the route, TH, area, etc., including destination, points of interest, flora and fauna, difficult trail sections, and other valuable or useful trip information. If you find a certain webpage (such as 14’ers.com or AllTrails) or book particularly helpful, link to it. Don’t include trip stats here as there are places to enter those below. Example weblink: 7:30 Mine Trail. DON'T forget access information. Required field
Land Manager – These are important for CMC tracking and reporting, so please include these items if known. If you don't know default to "Land Manager Varies". Required field. CoTrex, Chat GPT, Google Gemini, etc., are excellent tools for locating this info quickly. Only if you know. Required field
Maximum Party Size - The Land Manager sets this and is a required value. A general rule of thumb is 12. The reviewer will research and confirm. Or more if the land manager allows it, such as Jeffco 14 heartbeats. Again, CoTrex, Chat GPT, Google Gemini, etc., are excellent tools to locate this info quickly. Required field
Recommended Party Size – This is equal to or less than the Maximum Route/Place Capacity, focusing on reducing the club’s recreational footprint. CMC uses 12 as a default number for hikes, but it can be less, especially for other Activities such as climbing and backpacking. Again, CoTrex, Chat GPT, Google Gemini, etc., are excellent tools to locate this info quickly. Required field
Check for Route/Place conflicts - If the R/P is an area or park that can accommodate more than one group, do not check the “Check for Conflicts” box. Only if you know. Note JeffCo has instituted a hard rule of one group per Park or OS location, no matter how big the place is.
Start GPS Point – It is easiest to use the map, zoom in on TH, and right-click the location of the starting trailhead if you are familiar with the area. Or enter known latitude and longitude coordinates from Google Maps or another map source – Format: North decimal degrees, negative number for West decimal degrees. No words. For the coordinates to “take,” add a space at the end of your entry and click the pop-up. If your trip is one-way, add an ending point in the second map box, which otherwise is not required. Required field
Length / Length Units – The round-trip/one-way-total trip miles. Note use "0.0" if there are multiple trails or Alternate Titles that might make someone else's Activity mileage different. Required field
Maps and Charts – List anything you recommend, even if relatively obscure. Only if you know, otherwise, skip. Note: If you query ChatGPT, it lists all sources it cites.
Route/Place Titles for Activity Titles - If you know other possible activity titles here, such as a separate trail from the same trailhead, list them. Only if you know; otherwise, skip.
Season – all year or best months. Only if you know, otherwise, skip. AllTrails usually notes this info.
Common Uses - Default is "Trip," but do classes or meetings or field trips apply? You can delete "trip" if this R/P is a common meeting hall, such as the CMC Clubhouse. Only if you know, otherwise, skip.
Activity Type - Hiking, Skiing, Snowshoeing, etc. Start typing, and these will pop up. Only if you know, otherwise, skip. Not just your planned type, but any type appropriate to the R/P.
Difficulty - Again, if there is more than one possible activity from this place, leave it blank. If it is a stand-alone trail, you can use the suggested CMC Difficult Rating if needed. Only if you know, otherwise, skip.
Elevation Gain - Same considerations as "Difficulty." Only if you know, otherwise, skip.
Highpoint elevation - Only if you know, otherwise, skip. ChatGPT is really good at finding this info, and it points you to other sources.
Avalanche Terrain Rating - Only if you know, otherwise, skip.
Categorization - Not needed at the time.
Dates - Use today's date as the publish date. Leave the expiration date blank.
Ownership – This will default to you. Do not change it. Add yourself as a contributor if you edit. Use the "rights" text box to acknowledge photo or text sourced from someplace else.
Settings – Not needed at this time.
Once completed, save the screen!!
Once saved, click the Submit for Publication button on the right side of the screen.
Are you ready?
- Seasons: Year-round
- Weather: View weather forecast
- Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
- Parking Permit Required: Other
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 12
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
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